[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 24, Volume 5]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 24CFR3280.303]

[Page 121]
 
                 TITLE 24--HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
 
 CHAPTER XX--OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING--FEDERAL HOUSING 
        COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
 
PART 3280--MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
           Subpart D--Body and Frame Construction Requirements
 
Sec. 3280.303  General requirements.

    (a) Minimum requirements. The design and construction of a 
manufactured home shall conform with the provisions of this standard. 
Requirements for any size, weight, or quality of material modified by 
the terms of minimum, not less than, at least, and similar expressions 
are minimum standards. The manufacturer or installer may exceed these 
standards provided such deviation does not result in any inferior 
installation or defeat the purpose and intent of this standard.
    (b) Construction. All construction methods shall be in conformance 
with accepted engineering practices to insure durable, livable, and safe 
housing and shall demonstrate acceptable workmanship reflecting 
journeyman quality of work of the various trades.
    (c) Structural analysis. The strength and rigidity of the component 
parts and/or the integrated structure shall be determined by engineering 
analysis or by suitable load tests to simulate the actual loads and 
conditions of application that occur. (See subparts E and J.)
    (d) [Reserved]
    (e) New materials and methods. (1) Any new material or method of 
construction not provided for in this standard and any material or 
method of questioned suitability proposed for use in the manufacture of 
the structure shall nevertheless conform in performance to the 
requirements of this standard.
    (2) Unless based on accepted engineering design for the use 
indicated, all new manufactured home materials, equipment, systems or 
methods of construction not provided for in this standard shall be 
subjected to the tests specified in paragraph (g) of this section.
    (f) Allowable design stress. The design stresses of all materials 
shall conform to accepted engineering practice. The use of materials not 
certified as to strength or stress grade shall be limited to the minimum 
allowable stresses under accepted engineering practice.
    (g) Alternative test procedures. In the absence of recognized 
testing procedures either in these standards or the applicable 
provisions of those standards incorporated by reference, the 
manufacturer electing this option shall develop or cause to be developed 
testing procedures to demonstrate the structural properties and 
significant characteristics of the material, assembly, subassembly 
component or member. Such testing procedures shall become part of the 
manufacturer's approved design. (Refer to Sec. 3280.3.)
    (1) Testing procedures so developed shall be submitted to the 
Department for approval.
    (2) Upon notification of approval, the alternative test procedure is 
considered acceptable.
    (3) Such tests shall be witnessed by an independent licensed 
professional engineer or architect or by a recognized testing 
organization. Copies of the test results shall be kept on file by the 
manufactured home manufacturer.

[40 FR 58752, Dec. 18, 1975. Redesignated at 44 FR 20679, Apr. 6, 1979, 
as amended at 58 FR 55005, Oct. 25, 1993; 59 FR 2469, Jan. 14, 1994]